Cuba Gooding Jr. Biography, Parents, Siblings, Wife, Children, Net Worth—
Cuba Gooding Jr. is a well-known American actor who received an Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role in the American comedy sports film ‘Jerry Maguire’, directed by Cameron Crowe.
After beginning his professional on-camera career in the late 80s with supporting roles in such projects as, “Coming to America”, “Sing” and “MacGyver”, he became a household name with his breakout performance in “Boyz ‘n the Hood”.
From there, he went back and forth between film and television projects throughout the early 90s, slowly building up a solid resume. His work during his early years included roles in “Gladiator”, “A Few Good Men”, “Daybreak”, “Outbreak”, “Losing Isaiah”, and “The Tuskegee Airmen”. Then along came his famous role in “Jerry Maguire”.
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Cuba Gooding Jr. Biography
Cuba Mark Gooding, Jr. was born on January 2nd, 1968 in The Bronx, New York, United States. He celebrated his 56th birthday in 2024.
He attended four different high schools: North Hollywood High School, Tustin High School, Apple Valley High School, and John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills Los Angeles. He served as class president in three of them. He became a born-again Christian at the age of 13.
Following high school, Cuba studied Japanese martial arts for three years before turning his focus toward acting.
About Cuba Gooding Jr. Parents
Cuba Gooding Jr parents are Cuba Gooding Sr and Shirley (Sullivan). His mother, Shirley (Sullivan), was a backup singer for The Sweethearts.
His father, Cuba Gooding, was the lead vocalist for the R&B group The Main Ingredient, which had a hit with the song “Everybody Plays The Fool”.
Gooding paternal grandfather, Dudley MacDonald Gooding, was a native of Barbados. Cuba’s father moved the family to Los Angeles in 1972, only to leave them a few years later.
After his father left the family, Gooding was raised primarily by his mother.
About Cuba Gooding Jr. Siblings
Cuba has three siblings: April, Omar, and Thomas. April Gooding is an actress and voiceover artist who is the eldest of the siblings. April Gooding is known for InAPPropriate Comedy (2013), AM Radio (2021) and The Shield (2002).
Omar Gooding is an actor best known for appearing in hit television shows such as Deadwood, Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G., Family Time, Barbershop, Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, Playmakers, Smart Guy, and Wild & Crazy Kids.
On the big screen, he received critical acclaim for his role as Sweetpea in the Paramount feature film Baby Boy directed by the late John Singleton.
In addition to his successful acting career, Omar has also excelled as a producer, writer, and hip-hop artist releasing his first solo album under the moniker Big O, and touring the country in the smash musical Redemption of a Dogg which chronicled the life of hip hop icon Snoop Dogg.
Tommy Gooding is a musician and his Instagram showcases his musical prowess and his passion for his family. He definitely doesn’t jump into the spotlight as much as Cuba, and the two are also rarely photographed together.
About Cuba Gooding Jr. Wife
In 1994, Cuba Gooding Jr. married his high school sweetheart, Sara Kapfer, who is a teacher. The couple lived together for seven years prior to getting married.
Unfortunately, their marriage ended in March 2014, when Kapfer filed for divorce and joint legal and physical custody of their children, citing insurmountable differences.
It is unclear to the media how the divorce was finalized and whether it was ever consummated. Despite the divorce petitions, the couple continued to see each other from time to time.
About Cuba Gooding Jr. Children
Cuba Gooding Jr. has three children with his ex-wife Sara Kapfer. Their names are Spencer, Mason, and Piper.
Spencer and Mason were born in 1994 and 1996, respectively, while Piper was born in 2005.
What is Cuba Gooding, Jr.’s Net Worth and Salary?
As of March 2024, Cuba Gooding, Jr.’s net worth is estimated to be $12 Million.
Cuba earned $600,000 for his Oscar-winning role in Jerry Maguire. He earned $1.5 million for What Dreams May Come and another $1.5 million for Men of Honor. He earned $2 million for Instinct.
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